Spring.



E. P. CURREY.

sm'zmc.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. ll. I918.

mamw; Patented 001:.1, 1918.

- sas' use ENDS P. CURREY, 0F TOLEDO, OREGON.

SPRING.

Specification .of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 11, 1918.

' Application filed February 11, 1918. Serial No. 216,486.

Toledo, in the county of Lincoln and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Springs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in springs, and more particularly the invention relates to new and useful improvements in vehicle springs, comprising a plurality of spaced superposed graduated bent springs, which are provided with means intermediate their ends and at their extremities for holding the same in spaced relation.

Another object of the invention isto provide a vehicle spring of this character, which provides a plurality of graduated spaced superposed spring members, said members being provlded with anti-friction means cooperatively related witheach other, to increase the resiliency of this type of spring without decreasing the durability of the same. I I

WVith these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partswhich will be herein referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

. In the accompanying drawings:

Figure Us a side elevation of my new and improved vehicle spring,

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical longitudinal section through one end, and

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of one end showing a slightly modified form.

In describing my invention, I shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a plurality of flat steel springs, which are graduated, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings and which are held in superposed spaced relation intermediate their ends, by felt spacing members 2 that are positioned therebetween. The springs are held secured together by the usual type of securing shackles 3 disposed adjacent each end, and the ends of the lowermost springs are bent loop shaped as shown at 4, to form a securing means therefor.

The extremities of the springs lare held spaced by providing off-set portions 5 there for that extend downwardly andrest upon the spring disposed directly beneath thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawlngs. These off-set portions 5 are drawn out to approximately half the thickness of the springs, as ,clearly shown at 6, and each is provided with a stamped out pocket 7 therein adapted to receive ball' bearings 8 that will slide freely upon the flat surface against which they rest, to increase the resiliency and permit free movement of the springs. If desired, instead of the balls, a lubricant may be positioned therein, or a combination of the two used Omt-ly.

The spring is provided with a supplemental extra leaf 9 thatis disposed below the lowermost leaf and conforms substantially to the curvature thereof. The extremities of the supplemental leaf spring are bent upwardly, and are secured to the said main spring by clips 10. This extra leaf at the bottom greatly increases the efliciency of the device, as it tends to hold back the rebound of the spring when the same has been under pressure and the pressure is suddenly resteel .balls that are positioned in the upturned pocket are adapted to ride on the adjacent flat face of the spring directly beneath the spring in which they are positioned, and if desired, a lubricant may be positioned in said pocket or the combination of the lubricant and balls employed together.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation, and advantages of my invention may be had, and while if have shown and described the device as embodying a specific structure, I desire that it be understood that such changes may be made in said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

" Having fully described my invention,

lmi

flllt .What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A spring of the class described including a plurality of superposed leaves, spacing means at the center portions of said leaves, the extremities of certain of the leaves being off-set and adapted to rest upon the adjacent portions of the leaf therebeneath, and anti-friction means carried by Said'oE-Set portions.

2. A spring of the class described including a plurality of superposed graduated leaves, spacing means at the center portions of said leaves, the extremities of certain of said leaves being drawn out to approximately half the thickness thereof and off-set so that they rest upon the upper face of the macaw adjacent leaf, stamped out pockets formed in said off-set portions, and ball bearings positioned in said pockets and engaging the adjacent portions of the leaf therebeneath.

3. A spring of the class described including a plurality of superposed leaves, spacing means at the center and outer portions of said leaves, anti-friction means carried by said lastmentioned means, and a supplemental leafspring arranged beneath the lowermost leaf of said spring havingits ends 0&- set and connected to the adjacent portions of said lowermost leaf.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

ENDS P. OURREY. 

